War and Peace, Part 1: First Epilogue: 1813–20, Chapter 4 summary
Part 1: First Epilogue: 1813–20, Chapter 4 of 365 · 4 min to read the chapter
In Chapter 4, the narrator presents Napoleon’s return and Alexander I’s rejection of power as parts of a historical movement neither man controls. A comparison with different explanations of a bee’s activity argues that people can observe relationships without understanding the ultimate purpose of individuals or nations.
What happens
- Diplomats mistake themselves for the cause of peace, then face renewed upheaval coming from Paris.
- Napoleon returns to France without soldiers, receives an enthusiastic welcome, and serves a final collective action before isolation on an island.
- The narrator presents Alexander I’s character and experiences as preparations for leading Europe’s movement from east to west.
- After the war of 1815, Alexander turns away from power and toward his soul and God.
- Different observers assign different purposes to a bee, illustrating why the ultimate purposes of historical lives remain beyond human understanding.
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What does Alexander do after gaining his greatest apparent power?
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